Behind wrought-iron gates overlooking leafy Brook Green in Hammersmith, St Paul’s Girls’ School is one of the most famous girls’ schools in Britain. Here are five things to know.
1. It was one of the first purpose-built girls’ schools
The Worshipful Company of Mercers founded the school in 1904, using part of John Colet’s endowment to create a girls’ counterpart to St Paul’s School for boys. The first 54 pupils, known as Paulinas, enrolled in January 1904, and the school was officially opened that April by the Prince and Princess of Wales. Fees were then £7 a term.
2. Gustav Holst wrote music for it
The composer Gustav Holst was the school’s director of music, and he wrote both the St Paul’s Suite and the Brook Green Suite for its pupils. Music remains a real strength of school life today.
3. The building is a landmark
Designed by architect Gerald Horsley, the baroque-revival main building greets visitors with heavy oak doors and a chessboard marble floor. It’s just a few minutes’ walk from Hammersmith Broadway.
4. It’s academic but unstuffy
SPGS is known for being intellectually adventurous, and there’s no uniform. Results are extraordinary, with 99.5% of GCSE grades at 9 to 7 in 2025. Kindness matters just as much: pupils are placed in small tutor groups, there’s a “big sister” peer-support programme, and partnership and service activities are a big part of school life.
5. Entry is mainly at 11+
St Paul’s Girls’ is a day school for girls aged 11 to 18. Most join at 11+, through written assessments and interviews, with some places available in the sixth form. Scholarships and means-tested bursaries are available.
Find out more
St Paul’s Girls’ School, Brook Green, London W6 7BS. Telephone 020 7603 2288. Visit spgs.org for admissions and open events.